Cover the Bases: Sports Betting News and Notes from the Past Week

Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is substantial company.

Sport England approximates the value of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

And that figure is most likely to have grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.

Meanwhile, German research firm Sport & Markt approximates the general worldwide gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gaming.

But when the stability of events are hit the betting market suffers, and revenues are put under hazard if consumers can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt’s Gareth Moore observes: “Everyone speak about the sports gambling market now.

“Not only is it a significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing claims connecting to a test versus England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these players have stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted against the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, however was prohibited recently for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful technique to him to throw frames.

There are also 2 other continuing examinations – unrelated to Mr Higgins – into snooker.

‘Honest’

David O’Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK’s greatest online sporting exchanges.

“If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies since individuals will invest cash betting with confidence,” he says.

“If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK controlled betting industry … it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

“That is since the perception is that ‘cricket is now something we may have to take care about’.”

‘Education’

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation explains: “The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee.”

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association.

He believes that it is not sufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on prospective problems around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules need to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

“Through informing gamers about sports wagering you reinforce integrity and that is in everybody’s interest,” he includes.

“If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.

“Prevention is better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of telling players ‘you are going to be captured’.”

“It is necessary that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly,” he includes.

“If it loses that then people do not wish to bet, that is not in gambling companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He said that when a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was “incalculable”.

FA guidelines imply gamers are not permitted to bet on a in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states players have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might cause “brand name damage” to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

“We need to get over to players the reputational risk to the video game,” he says. “Once confidence has actually been harmed it is difficult to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” method, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial betting in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.

“The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering taking place through UK operators is legal and fair,” he states.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting event.

“Such cheating has the potential to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise harms the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering.”

The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate details to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

“Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering,” he states.

“We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to assist prevent or curtail [prohibited] activity”

In May 2010, the commission also introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.

‘Vulnerabilities’

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous examinations, and that much helpful information has likewise been passed to sports authorities.

He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost effective, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he says a number of those seeking to cheat the sports wagering industry were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the movement of cash.

“They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises.”